Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Anthrax Probe: The FBI Fingered the Right Man

The National Academy of Sciences will review the science used by the FBI to link Bruce Ivins to the anthrax letters sent to congressional offices and media organizations in the days after 9/11 in 2001. FBI Director Robert Mueller made the announcement at a congressional hearing today.

Fox News revealed the text of the "Quantico Letter" today, and its similarities to the texts of the anthrax letters is undeniable. It would be incredible if they were written by different people, although the FBI, somewhat absurdly, says the Quantico Letter has nothing to do with the case. It apparently was an attempt to frame Dr. Ayaad Assaad who worked alongside Ivins, and Assaad said they were friends. But a "friend" like Ivins is capable of anything. It seems incredible to me that Assaad and other scientists would doubt Ivins was responsible. This suggests other problems among this particular community.

Assaad said: "Bruce Ivins is an honorable man." This is demonstrably untrue, as we know from many facts of the case, such as Ivins adding derogatory information about Kappa Kappa Gamma in the Wikipedia entry, and his threats to kill his co-workers, and many other similar incidents. These are not the actions of an "honorable" man.

Some who knew him are portraying Ivins as a mild-mannered guy who would never do anything to hurt anyone, but a social worker accused him of stalking and threatening to kill her. Her own credibility has been attacked, but Ivins' brother said he isn't surprised by such charges, and said Ivins "considered himself like a god."

Pathological characters like Ivins are capable of anything, and I would be shocked if Ivins was not responsible for the anthrax attacks and the Quantico Letter, with no one else involved.

The review of the probe will cost plenty and several members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are demanding it.

I see no conspiracy here except the one orchestrated by Ivins. I expect the probe will corroborate that finding.